The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 284

the ungodly are, with all their noise and parade. 2. Hence a second duty is presented to us: •• Trust" and "Rest in the L<n-d." Two expressions for substantially tho same attitude of spirit. But this restful trusting is put in contrast from fretting. Your work iR not to worry, but to trust your God. Now, in what sense is this intended? Let us picture the good man under the difficulty to which we have referred. He sees the ungodly in high places, while he is obscure, depressed, afflicted; and he wonders what it means. Now, in what sense is such a one to trust in the Lord? He is to trust in God, believing that such a state of things is known and permitted by him in infinite wisdom; that this state of things is perfectly consistent with God's love for his people ; that God has some wise and holy end in permitting it-to prove him and to improve him ; and that he will see that end, either in this world or in the next. 3. 'l'ben there follows a third duty: " Wait patiently." If we are content to wait and let God's methods in providence open up before us, we shall see the ungodly cut down (vers. 2, 9, 10, 15, 17, 20, 25, 36, 38); that God will give us the desires of our heart, and graciously clear our way (vers. 4, 5); that though we may have been misunderstood and misrepresented for a time, yet God will clear us and our reputation in the long run (ver. 6); that God will grant the true possession and peaceful enjoyment of life to the meek and loyal (ver. 11); that the little of Hw righteous brings far more joy than the much of the wicked (ver. 16); that he will be upheld where others fall (ver.17); that supplies shall be sent to the saint even in days of famine (ver. 19); that step by step will be taken under the ordering of a Divine Guide (ver. 23); that even in falling he shall not perish, for to him shall be shown a Divine upholding grace (ver. 24); that the righteous man will leave a blessed inheritance to his chilJ.ren,-peace was his in life, and peace shall follow his children when he is gone to his rest (ver. 37); that his life is but an outworking of God's great salvation (vers. 39, 40). It is not in youth that all this can be seen, but if we believe God when we are young, we shall have proved him ere we are old. Only let us "wait patiently." There is a vast unfolding plan, which, if we are wise to observe, will be ever revealing to us "the loving-kindness of the Lord." 4. .And thus we are led on to afowrth duty-that of obedience. (Ver. 3.) "Trust in. the Lord, and do good," i.e. "do right." In ver. 34: the same duty is expressed in another phrase, " Wait on the Lord, and keep his way." Trusting and trying, resting and working, are to go together. We are to find out what God would have us do in the sphere in which he has placed us; then to trust in the Lord, be strong, and do it. And we may "do right" (ver. 3), or, in other words, we may" keep his way" (ver. 34:) in one or other of two methods. By actively doing the Divine will} and this is probably what most of ware called on to do-to pursue with energy the duties in active life that are set before us. Now, we may fulfil these: (1) In attending at each moment to the duty of the moment; simply doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, and with the distinct aim and purpose of ple11.11ing God. May be our ea.Hing is not that which we should prefer, and yet we see no way open to any other. When God does open a way in another direction, by all means let us follow it. But, meanwhile, be it ours simply to do the work which lies before us, with a readiness and cheerfuloess that befit those whose sole aim is to please God. (2) In the cultivation of holiness we may "do right," ever setting the Lord before us, and aiming to follow him who" left us an example, that we should follow his steps." (3) In personal efforts to help, to relieve, to comfort, or to serve another, we may do right. In this respect, as well as others, "it is accepted, according to what a man bath, and not according to what he bath not." But we may" do right" also by patiently bearing the Divine will; and sometimes this is all the believer can do-simply to bear what God has laid upon him. Nor is there a nobler sight on earth than to sea one who, racked with pain or wr:i.pped in obscurity, can Ray, "My lot is appointed me by my Father's will i all that will is love, and therefore I can cheerfully bear it. If my Father were to give the rod unto my own hands, I would give it back to him, saying, 'Father, thou knowest best; do with me as seemeth good in thy sight.'" Why, such a one, tho~gb he never goes outside the doors of his own house from one year's end to another, is a missionary to the Church and to the world I Preach fervently as we may by words, we cannot preach like these suffering saints I But we must notice- 11. THE OONNECTlON THERE rs BETWEEN THESE SEVERAi, DUTIES, We have specified I'S, XltXVJI, 1-40.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 293